Tank valve and strainer.



J. H. WATTERS.

TANK VALVE AND STRAI NER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24. 1915.

1 1 5 1 ,634. Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

Witness COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH COHWASHINGTON, D. C.

ang na onion JOHN HENRY WATTERS, OF ANNISTON, ALABAMA.

TANK VALVE AND STRAINEB.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HENRY WAT- .rnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Anniston, in the county of Calhoun and State of Alabama, have invented a new and. useful Tank Valve and Strainer, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to strainers, and relates more particularly to that class of strainers which are employed between the water tank of a locomotive tender and the injector, for straining the water supplied to the locomotive boiler.

The object of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved valve and strainer, which is adapted to be attached to the bottom of the tank, or which is adapted to bedisposed between the tank and injector, so as to be operable forv straining the feed water supplied to the boiler and also for controlling the flow of water from the tank.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of'the nature indicated which is of such construction and operation that it will be operable to strain the water, to drain the tank when desired, to shut off the flow of water from the tank, and to al.- low the sediment or foreign matter to be discharged.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide an appliance of the nature specified embodying a unique assemblage of the component parts, whereby'theutility of the device is enhanced, and whereby the device is comparatively simple and practical in construction and operation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter clescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a vertical section illustrating the. device applied tothe bottomofawater Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 311, 1915.

Application filed March 24, 1915. Serial No. 16,812.

tank of a locomotive, portions of the tank being broken away. Fig. 2 is a horizontal or' cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a vertical or upright casing 1, preferably of cylindrical contour, and having the plate-like upper end or top. 2 which is extended beyond the walls of the casing 1 to provide a flange 3 for bolting or fastening the upper end of the casing 1 to the bottom of the water tank 4%. The top 2 of the'casing' is provided with an inlet opening or port 5 adjacent one side of the casing, and which is adapted to register with an opening 6 formed in the bottom of the tank whereby the water from the tank will flow into the casing 1 when the openings 6 and 5 are unobstructed. The edges of the opening 5 are beveled to provide a beveled valve seat.

The casing 1 is provided with a detachable bottom 7 which is provided with an opening 8 below and in alinement with the opening 5 and adjacent the same side of the casing as the said opening 5. The side 9 of the casing adjacent which the openings 5 and 8 are arranged, is provided with a lower out standing nozzle or nipple 10 adjacent the bottom 7, and adapted for the attachment of a hose or other conductor leading to the injector (not shown}. Thus, it will be understood that the nozzle 10 which provides the outlet of the casing is adapted for connection to the injector which in turn is connected to the boiler for drawing the water from the tank and forcing the same into the boiler.

A strainer and valve device 11 is provided within the casing 1, the same being carried by the vertical spindle or rod 12 which has its upper end portion threaded through a plug 13 engaged into the top of the tank 4. The upper end of the spindle or stem 12 is provided with crank or other suitable means 14 whereby the spindle may be conveniently rotated to move the same upwardly or downwardly.

The strainer and valve device 11 embodies upper and lower valves 15 and 16 secured .npon the spindle 12in any suitable manner,

and having a cylindrical 'apertured or perforated strainer or screen 17 clamped therebetween. The rims of the valves 15 and 16 are provided with rabbets 18 in which the ends of the strainer or screen 17 are seated, whereby the strainer or screen will be carried properly between the valves, and the valves and strainer will provide the strainer and valve device carried by the spindle 12 Within the casing. The upper valve 15 is seatable within the upper inlet opening 5 of the casing, and the lower valve 16 is seatable within the lower drain opening 8 of the casing, while the strainer or screen 17 is movable snugly along the side wall 9 of the casing and butt or basal end of the outlet nozzle 10.

An arcuate guide 19 is attached to or integral with the side wall 9 of the casing immediately above the nozzle 10 and surrounds the strainer 17 for guiding the spindle and parts carried thereby for vertical movement, the wall 9 of the casing being curved, as at 20, to conform to the curvature of the strainer 17, and which will properly guide the strainer and valves for vertical or up and down movement within the casing.

In operation, the spindle 12 is normally screwed downward to seat the lower valve 16 within the opening 8 of the valve casing, whereby the opening 8 will be closed, and whereby the strainer 17 will stand across the butt end of the nozzle or outlet 10. The valve 15 will be moved downwardly from the opening 5, and this will allow the water to flow from within the tank 1 downwardly into the casing 1, and thence through the strainer 17 and nozzle outlet 10 tothe injector. It will be noted that the water is compelled to pass through oneapertured wall of the strainer 17 remote from the nozzle 10 and then through that apertured wall of the strainer which stands across the butt end of the nozzle, and the water being compelled to flow through the strainer will serve to strain the water, and confine within the casing 1, the sediment or foreign matter carried downwardly with the water into the casing. The sediment or extraneous matter thus accumulates within the casing, and will be prevented from being carried into the injector and boiler. The sediment or foreign matter may be discharged from the casing 1 from time to time, which is accomplished by screwing the spindle 12 upward, to unseat the valve 16 and allow the sediment to be discharged through the opening 8. This operation may be carried out even while the locomotive is in motion, and without danger. When the spindle 12 is moved upwardly sufficiently to seat the valve 15 within the opening 5, the flow of water from the tank through the casing 1 will be stopped, and by adjusting the spindle 12 to an intermediate position so that both of the valves 15 and 16 are unseated, the tank 4: may be drained. It will thus be obvious that the present device is useful for four reasons, viz., first, it serves as a strainer for the water passing therethrough; second, it allows the sediment to be ejected or discharged when desired; third, it serves as a valve for shutting off the flow of water out of the tank; and fourth, it may be manipulated for draining the tank. Even in view of the fact that the present device provides the four functions above noted, the device is extremely simple in construction and operation.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described, a casing having an upper opening, a lower opening, and an opening at one side, and a strainer and valve device movable vertically within the casing and having an upper valve for closing the upper opening when said device is raised, and a lower valve for cl0s ing the lower opening when the device is lowered, and a strainer to stand across the side opening when the device is lowered.

2. In a device of the character described, a casing having an upper opening adjacent one side, a lower opening adjacent said side, and said side of the casing having a lower opening, and a strainer and valve device movable vertically within the casing adjacent said side thereof, and having an upper valve to close the upper opening when said device is raised, a lower valve to close the lower opening when said device is lowered, and a cylindrical strainer between the valves and working adjacent said side of the casing to stand across the third mentioned opening when said device is lowered.

3. In a device of the character described, a casing having an upper opening adjacent one side, a lower opening adjacent said side, and said side of the casing having a lower opening, a vertically movable spindle projecting within the casing, upper and lower valves carried by the spindle for closing the upper and lower openings, respectively, when the spindle is raised and lowered, and a cylindrical strainer clamped between said valves and movable adjacent said side of the casing to stand across the third mentioned opening when the spindle is lowered.

4. In a device of the character described, a casing having an upper opening adjacent one side, a lower opening adjacent said side, and said side of the casing having a lower opening, a vertically movable spindle projecting within the casing, upper and lower valves carried by the spindle for closing the upper and lower openings, respectively,

when the spindle is raised and lowered, and

the casing to stand across the third menmy own, I have hereto aifixed my signature tioned opeinlgl" When this spindle is dlowered, in the presence of two Witnesses. said side 0 t e casing eing curve to conform to the curvature of the strainer, and JOHN HENRY R 5 the casing having a guide therein for the Witnesses:

strainer. L. O. WATSON,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as A. J. GOODWIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

